Think. Discuss. Act.

Think. Discuss. Act.

Think. Discuss. Act. Family

Family Stats

Structure and Composition of Family

According to a November 2010 article from the Pew Research center, the last 50 years have given rise to a transformation of the structure and composition of the American family. According to the article: “The pre-iminent family unit of the mid-20th century – mom, dad, and the kids-no longer has the stage to itself. A verity of new arrangements have emerged, giving rise to a broader and evolving definition of what constitutes a family.”

This can be seen by looking at the data alone:

In 1960, 72% of American Adults were married. By 2008, that number had fallen to 52.

When asked in a survey if marriage is becoming obsolete, about four out of every ten Americans surveyed – some 39% – responded that it was. A similar survey conducted by Time magazine in 1978 found this number to be 28%.

A 2010 Pew Research Survey found that 52% of Millennials (18-29 year-olds) consider parenthood very important, while only 30% say the same about having a successful marriage.

Teen Divorce

First marriages by women under age 18 are the most likely group to divorce.

The divorce rates are quite high for this group.

Recent studies have shown that the brains of teens and those in their early 20s are not fully mature, so to expect someone to make a lifelong commitment and be able to stick to it at this age is just not realistic.